Namgoong Min Says “Give Up” on “Hot Stove League” Season 2—But Is All Hope Lost?
On June 13, Namgoong Min appeared in a video titled “Namgoong Min Filmography Commentary” uploaded to the “SBS” YouTube channel. In the video, he personally reviewed his dramas “Hot Stove League” and “One Dollar Lawyer”.
At the end of the video, when the staff asked him to say a word to fans waiting for “Hot Stove League” Season 2, Namgoong Min replied with a firm “Give up”, bringing laughter.
However, he added “Well, maybe someday, if the timing is right. Please wait for the day I return as GM Baek Seung-soo”, leaving a glimmer of hope while refraining from commenting on the actual possibility of production.
Fans expressed disappointment at his remarks, commenting, “We’ve waited 5 years for Season 2”, “There’s still hope, right?”, “Please return for Season 2 soon” and “Is it time to give up now?”
“Hot Stove League” was a hit SBS drama that ended in February 2020. It told the story of a general manager who takes over a last-place baseball team and leads them through a dramatic reform. The drama peaked at 19.1% viewership ratings and received immense love.
After its conclusion, online requests for Season 2 steadily grew. Even five years later, discussions about the storyline continue to surface across multiple platforms.
However, screenwriter Lee Shin-hwa expressed cautiousness in a press conference after the series ended, saying, “I have a few ideas, but I’m not confident about filling 16 episodes.” Lee Shin-hwa also said “I don’t want viewers to say ‘you shouldn’t have come back’. I’ll take on the challenge again when inspiration overflows”, acknowledging the pressure of high expectations.
In 2022, Namgoong Min starred in SBS’s “One Dollar Lawyer”, playing the eccentric but loyal attorney Chun Ji-hoon, who defends powerless clients. The show topped the list of most-loved TV programs in Korea and ended on a high note with impressive ratings.
Namgoong Min is currently returning to the small screen in SBS’s new drama “Our Movie”, where he plays a film director dreaming of a comeback.
For now, fans might have to settle for reruns of “Hot Stove League”, but hope remains that Baek Seung-soo might once again take the field.